Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday that more than nine thousand vehicles owned by central and state governments, transport corporations and the public sector, which are more than 15 years old, will stop working on the roads. and new vehicles will replace them.
Speaking at an event organized by industry body FICCI, Gadkari said the government is taking many steps to facilitate the use of ethanol, methanol, bio CNG, bio LNG and tram.
“We have now approved the removal of more than 900,000 government vehicles that are more than 15 years old, and polluting buses and cars will no longer be on the roads and new vehicles will use alternative fuels. that will replace them.
“This will reduce air pollution to an even greater extent,” said the minister for road transport and highways.
According to a recent announcement by the Department of Road and Highway Transport, from April 1, all vehicles owned by central and state governments, including buses owned by transport corporations and public sector enterprises, more than 15 years old, will be deregistered and removed. .
The notice said the regulation would not apply to special purpose vehicles (armored vehicles and other specialized vehicles) used for operational purposes for the defense of the country and to maintain law, order and internal security.
“Disposal of such vehicles, after the expiration of 15 years from the date of the vehicle’s initial registration, (must) be ensured through a Registered Vehicle Scrap Facility established under the regulations on motor vehicles (Registration and Functioning of Scrap Vehicles Facility) Rule, 2021,” it said.
Published in the Union Budget 2021-22, this policy provides after 20 years for personal vehicles and 15 years for commercial vehicles. Under the new policy effective April 1, 2022, the Center says states and Union Territories will offer up to 25% reduction in road tax on vehicles purchased after removal. Get rid of old vehicles.
Last year, Gadkari said he wanted to develop at least one auto scrap facility within 150 kilometers of each city center, while asserting that the country has the potential to become the country’s auto scrap hub. the entire South Asia region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Vehicle Scrap Policy in 2021 and said the policy would help phase out unsuitable and polluting vehicles, while boosting the circular economy.
Gadkari said India’s goal of reaching net zero by 2070 is very achievable if the country follows a strategic and systematic approach to transportation.
“There is an immediate need for decarbonization in the transportation sector,” he stressed.
The minister noted that the necessity of the hour is to have more electric buses with all world-class amenities and facilities as it will attract more and more people to public transport and discourage the use of personal vehicles.
“I have set a goal for the auto industry to develop India’s first BS 4 compliant flex motor and launch it in India,” he said.
According to Gadkari, logistics costs are 8-10% in China, 12% in European countries, 12% in the US and 14-16% in India.
“Our ambition is to bring India’s logistics costs down to single digits,” he said.
Pointing out that the share of agriculture and related sectors in India’s GDP is only 12%, he said more investment should be encouraged in India’s agriculture, rural and tribal areas.
“If you can increase the share of agriculture and related industries in India’s GDP from 12% to 24%, that will create more jobs in agriculture and rural areas, even increase chief agricultural officer…we can create not only smart cities but also smart villages,” he said.
Gadkari said future mobility must be economically, ecologically and environmentally sustainable.
In addition, speaking at the event, Uber’s head of Public Policy (Asia Pacific) Mike Orgill said that 100% of vehicles on the Uber platform will become zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
Date of first publication: January 31, 2023, 14:06 pm IST
